FACT FILES Climbing Everest Reporter: Why climb Everest? George Mallory: Because it’s there!! In 1852, it was decided that Mount Everest, in the Himalayas, was the world’s highest mountain. And ever since then, men and women have wanted to climb it! Many try, a few are successful and some lose their lives … Mallory and Irvine British climbers George Mallory and Andrew Irvine tried to reach the top of Everest in 1924. They had already tried twice. Sadly, they disappeared. Nobody knows if they ever reached the summit. Hillary and Tenzing In 1953, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Norgay Tenzing became the first people to reach the top of Everest. They had simple equipment and no ropes. When they reached the summit, Tenzing put sweets in the snow for the gods. They stayed there for only 15 minutes before going back down. Hillary and Tenzing became famous all over the world. Many climbers and Sherpas have died here – killed by falling ice. After Camp IV (7900 m), climbers enter the ‘Death Zone’. They can’t stay here for more than two to three days because of the altitude. If the weather isn’t good enough to continue, they have to go back down to Base Camp. It takes ten to twelve hours from Camp IV to reach the summit. Climbers usually spend less than 30 minutes at the summit because they need to be back at Camp IV before dark. Who are the Sherpas? The Sherpa people come from the mountains in Nepal, high up in the Himalayas. Many Sherpas helped the first climbers who came to Everest. They carried equipment and worked as mountain guides. Today, the word ‘sherpa’ is used for any guide or helper in the Himalayas. EVEREST FACTS The way to the top Everest is over 8000 m high. There are five camps, including ‘Base Camp’, before reaching the summit. ● About 1500 people have reached the summit ● Junko Tabei from Japan Base Camp is at 5000 m. Climbers usually spend two weeks here to adjust to the altitude. During that time, Sherpas set up ropes in the dangerous icefall above. Tenzing at the summit What do these words mean? You can use a dictionary. gods base adjust altitude icefall zone 58 was the first woman to reach the summit in 1975 ● Over 200 people have died on Mount Everest since 1922 Why do you think people want to climb mountains like Everest? Would you like to try it? ● Everest is growing by 4-10 cms every year 59
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